Click the Photo Kind pop-up menu and choose the file type for the exported photos.

JPEG creates small-size files suitable for use with websites and other photo apps.

TIFF is a lossless file format that works well for transferring photos between computers and apps.

PNG is another lossless file format popular for web images.

Click the File Name pop-up menu and choose how to name the exported files (this step is optional).

You can name your exported files using the titles you’ve given them in Photos, their filenames, or a filename numbered sequentially. If you choose Sequential, you can specify text to appear before each number (for example, Birthday - 1, Birthday - 2, and so on).

Click the Subfolder Format pop-up menu and choose how to divide the exported files into folders.

For example, if you export photos from several different moments, you can have Photos export each moment as a subfolder named after the moment. Choose None to export the photos as individual files without subfolders.

Click Export.

Choose where to save the exported photo files, then click Export.

Tip: If you’re signed in to iCloud and have iCloud Drive turned on, you can export photo files to iCloud Drive, then access them from any Mac, iOS device, or Windows PC set up to use iCloud Drive. See Use iCloud Drive to store documents.

Export photos in their original format

You can export photos in the original file format in which they were imported into your Photos library. A Live Photo is exported as two separate files: a still image file and a video file.

In the Photos app on your Mac, select the photos you want to export.

Choose File > Export > Export Unmodified Original.

If you want to export IPTC information (assigned IPTC metadata and keywords) as a sidecar XMP file, select the Export IPTC as XMP checkbox.

Click the File Name pop-up menu and choose how to name the exported files (this step is optional).

You can name your exported files using the titles you’ve given them in Photos, their filenames, or a filename numbered sequentially. If you choose Sequential, you can specify text to appear before each number (for example, Birthday - 1, Birthday - 2, and so on).

Click the Subfolder Format pop-up menu and choose how to divide the exported files into folders.

For example, if you export photos from several different moments, you can have Photos export each moment as a subfolder named after the moment. Choose None to export the photos as individual files without subfolders.

Click Export.

Choose where to save the exported photo files, then click Export Originals.

Export a photo as a desktop picture

You can select a photo and use it as your desktop picture.

In the Photos app on your Mac, select the photo you want to export.

Click the Share button in the toolbar and choose Set Desktop Picture.

Export videos

You can export videos so that you can share them or work with them in other apps. When you export a video, you can choose the movie quality and whether metadata such as a title or description is included with the exported file.

In the Photos app on your Mac, select videos you want to export.

Choose File > Export > Export [number] Videos.

Click the Movie Quality pop-up menu and choose the video format for the exported video.

Standard definition (480p) is good for standard-definition TV. If the video will play on a high-definition TV or display, choose one of the high-definition formats: 720p or 1080p. 4K is used for ultra-high-definition TVs and displays.

Click the File Name pop-up menu and choose how to name the exported files (this step is optional).

You can name your exported files using the titles you’ve given them in Photos, their filenames, or a filename numbered sequentially. If you choose Sequential, you can specify text to appear before each number (for example, Birthday - 1, Birthday - 2, and so on).

Click the Subfolder Format pop-up menu and choose how to divide the exported files into folders.

For example, if you export videos from several different moments, you can have Photos export each moment as a subfolder named after the moment. Choose None to export the videos as individual files without subfolders.

Click Export.

Choose where to save the exported video files, then click Export.

Tip: If you’re signed in to iCloud and have iCloud Drive turned on, you can export video files to iCloud Drive, then access them from any Mac, iOS device, or Windows PC set up to use iCloud Drive. See Use iCloud Drive to store documents.

Export slideshows

You can export slideshows to share with others. When you export a slideshow, Photos creates a movie file with the video format that you select.

In the Photos app on your Mac, click a slideshow under Projects in the sidebar.